Carriage return mechanism for writing machines



June, 1942 o. J. SUNDSTRAND CARRIAGE RETURN MECHANISM FOR WRITING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Dec. 30, 1938 INVENTOR 0504/? .A JUNDSTRAND BY {'4 ATTORNEY June 16, 1942. o. J. SUNDSTRAND CARRIAGE RETURN MECHANISM FOR WRITING MACHINES File d Dec. 50, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR OSCAR J. SUNDSTRAND RNEY ATTO

Patented June 16, 1942 l CARRIAGE RETURN MECHANISM FOR WRITING MACHINES Oscar J. Sundstrand, Hartford, Conn, assi'gnor to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company,

New

York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 30, 1938, Serial No. 248,553

16 Claims.

' This invention relates to typewriters and other record making machines and more particularly to a power operated carriage return mechanism for such machines.

One object of the present invention is to improve the constructi-on and mode of operation of power operated carriage return mechanisms for record making machines and to produce a novel and improved mechanism by which the carriage of such a machine may be selectively returned by power to any one of two or more returned positions.

Another object of the invention is to produce, for machines of the above class, a carriage return mechanism for causing the return of the carriage by power to any one of two or more returned positions, having stopping devices for causing the discontinuance of the return movement of the carriage selectively with the carriage in the desired position, in which novel and improved mechanism is provided for holding said devices in position during the return of the carriage and for releasing said devices after the return movement of the carriage has stopped.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in a carriage return mechanism embodying the novel and improved features, constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the advantages of which will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The invention will be clearly understood from the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention in its preferred form and the following detailed description of the constructions therein shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating certain parts of a typewriting machine of the Elliott Fisher type embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view taken from the rear of the machine and illustrating particularly the carriage return mechanism,

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation, section, illustrating the ke carriage, the carriage return mechanism and certain devices for controlling said mechanism and the stopping of the return movement of the carriage,

Figure 4 is a detail view in side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the devices for controlling the carriage return mechanism and the stopping of the return movement of the carriage shown in Figure 3, with certain of said parts in different positions,

partly in 1 Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 illustrating certain of the parts in still different positions,

Figure 6 is a detail view in front elevation illustrating mechanism for holding the stopping devices for stopping the return movement of the carriage in position during said return movement,

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 6 illustrating certain of the parts in different positions,

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view illustrating one of the parts of the mechanism shown in Figures 6 and 7 detached from the machine,

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view illustrating certain parts of the mechanism shown in Figures 6 and 7, and

Figure 10 is a detail View in side elevation illustrating a portion of the mechanism shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5 with certain of the parts in different positions.

The invention is illustrated in this application as embodied in a machine having the same general construction, arrangement and mode of operation of parts as the machine disclosed in the patent to Foothorap, No, 1,904,127, dated April 18, 1933. 7

Referring to the drawings, a flat platen l is mounted in a rectangular platen frame comprising a pair of parallel side bars 2 suitably supported on a standard, not shown. A portion of each bar is toothed to form a rack engageable by traction gears 4 fast on a shaft 6 extending transversely of the side bars and supported by bearings in brackets, one of which is shown at 13, projecting upwardly from the rear portions of thelside members of the rectangular line space frame l0. This shaft also carries wheels 9 engaging tracks 9 formed on the side bars 2 and the front rail l2 of the line space frame is likewise supported by wheels, (not shown) engaging said tracks to enable the line space frame to move forwardly and rearwardly. 1

The rear and front cross rails II and I2 support a key carriage M shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 1 for travel across the platen l in letter spacing direction and return, on front and rear wheels engaging rails 12 and I I, respectively, of the line space frame, of which Wheels the front wheels only are indicated.

The key carriage contains the customary key actions, ribbon mechanism and controls for the carriage escapement, not necessary to illustrate, but disclosed in the U. S. patent to Foothorap No. 1,203,519, dated October 31, 1916. The usual spring barrel I6 is mounted on the line space frame I6, a tape I8 connecting the spring barrel with the ke carriage I4 to draw the carriage toward the right in letter spacing direction under control of the escapement mechanism.

Power drive The key carriage I4 may be manually returned to the left hand margin from any point to which it has been advanced in letter spacing direction, but to relieve the operator of the work of returning the carriage, a motor 26 is provided, conveniently mounted on a casting, (not shown) secured to and projecting rearwardly from the rear rail I I of the line space frame I 6 with which it travels.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, power from the motor is taken from the worm 22 fast on the motor shaft 24 and meshing with a worm gear 26 having a friction clutch connection 28 with a countershaft 36 journaled in the casting and extending forwardly beneath a carriage return rack 3I secured to the flanged rear end of an apron 62 projecting from the deck 34 of the key carriage I4.

A wide carriage return pinion 36 journaled on the forward end of the countershaft 36 and axially movable along the shaft, meshes with the teeth of the carriage return rack 3| at all times, the return pinion having a peripherally grooved collar 36 terminating at its rear end in a driven clutch member 46 normally disengaged from a driving clutch member 42 fast on the countershaft.

The free end of a clutch shift finger 44 lies in the groove in the sliding rotatable collar 38, the finger being secured to a clutch shifting shaft 46 journaled in the motor support casting. A clutch shifting arm 48 fast on one end of the clutch shifting shaft 46 is provided with a lateral locking lip 56 normally engaged by a locking latch 52 journaled on a trip shaft 54 extending across the machine and supported in bearings projecting from the back of the rear rail II of the line space frame. A fan-shaped trip arm 56 secured to the trip shaft 54 extends rearwardly between two studs 58 and 66 projecting respectively from the hooked latch 52 and from the clutch shifting arm 48, a normally tensioned spring 62 connecting the two studs to form a yielding link therebetween and normally maintaining the hooked latch 52 engaged with the clutch shifting arm 48 to retain the clutch members i6 and 42 disengaged.

Control of automatic carriage return mechanism Curved arms 55 projecting upwardly and forwardly from the trip shaft support a tripping bail 64 toothed at its opposite ends and rocking with the shaft 54. Mounted on the right hand end of the tripping bail is a cam block 66 arranged to be engaged by a roll 96 projecting downwardly from the carriage apron.

In the normal positions of the parts, the hooked latch 52, normally engaged with the lip 56 of the clutch shifting arm 48, retains the trip shaft 54 and it tripping bail 64 in their rearmost positions. As the carriage I4, travelling in letter spacing direction, advances the printing point toward the extreme right hand margin of the work sheet, the roll 96 wipes across the inclined face of the cam block 66 and rocks the bail forwardly, thereby rocking the trip shaft 54 in a clockwise direction, Figure 3.

The cam block 66 is mounted for sliding adjustment on the trip bail 64 and is pivotally connected by a link 68 with the right hand marginal stop I66 which is adjustably mounted on the right hand end of the carriage escapement rack I62.

The rearwardly projecting trip arm 56 is swung upwardly by the rocking movement of the trip shaft to disengage the hooked latch 52 from the clutch shifting arm 48 and, in so doing, additionally tensions the spring 62, which spring, acting as a tension link, rocks the clutch shifting shaft 46 and its clutch shifting finger 44 counter-clockwise, Figure 3, to slide the driven member 46 of the carriage return clutch along the countershaft 36 into engagement with the driving member 42, the carriage return pinion 36 being of sufficient width to maintain its engagement with the carriage return rack throughout the clutch shifting action.

The motor 26, if of the constantly running type, will then drive the carriage in contra-letter spacing direction, toward the left hand margin. In the machine illustrated in this application the motor is of the intermittent type, as shown and described in Patent No. 1,904,127, and the motor circuit is normally interrupted. The means for controlling the motor circuit is as follows.

The normally open circuit for the motor includes a source of power I64 and a switch I66, the latter comprising stationary and movable contacts I68 and H6.

The movable contact H6 is mounted on the swinging switch arm II2 pivoted at H4 and connected by a slotted link II6 with a depending switch controlling arm I I 6 fixed to the trip shaft 54, the switch arm II4, with its contact, being normally held apart from the stationary contact I66, by the clutch engaging spring 62.

When the roll 96 on the carriage rocks the tripping bail 64 and its trip shaft 54 is a clockwise direction, Figure 3, the switch controlling arm II8 fast on the trip shaft will force the slotted link II6 rearwardly to enable the spring I26 which has less power than the spring 62, to rock the switch arm H2 and engage its contact II 6 with the stationary contact I68, thereby closing the circuit through the motor to transmit power thereto.

Where a continuously running motor is employed, the switch mechanism and its control are omitted.

As the carriage approaches the end of its return movement under the influence of the motor 26, the tripping bail 64 is swung back rearwardly to its normal position. During this operation, the tripping arm 56 is pressed against the stud 66 on the clutch shiftingv arm 48 and rocks the arm, together with the clutch shaft 46 and clutch finger 44 in a clockwise direction, Figure 3, to cause the finger to disengage the driven clutch member 46 from the driving clutch member 42 thereby disconnecting the motor 26 from the travelling carriage I4.

The spring 62 tends to draw the hooked latch 52 downwardly as the clutch shifting arm 56 is swung downwardly, and when the arm 48 reaches a certain position, the latch snaps down over the lip 56 on said arm to lock the clutch shift mechanism, and hence the clutch members, in disengaged positions.

At the same time, the switch control arm II8 on the trip shaft 54, through the link II 6, swings the switch arm H2 and its contact I I6 away from the stationary contact I68, to interrupt the motor circuit, the spring 62 maintaining the movable switch contact out of engagement with its stationary contact.

The mechanism for swinging the tripping bail 64 rearwardly as the carriage approaches the end of its return movement will be hereinafter described.

All of the mechanisms above described have substantially the same construction arrangement and mode of operation as the corresponding mechanisms of the machine illustrated and described in applicant's pending application Serial No, 149,571, filed June 22, 1937.

Partial carriage return The present machine is provided not only with mechanism for automatically returning the carriage to position to begin the typing of a line, but is also provided with mechanism for stopping the carriage in fully returned position or in either of two partial return positions at different distances to the right of its fully returned position. In carrying out the invention, three keys are mounted on the key carriage I4 in place of the single key shown and described in Foothorap Patent No. 1,904,127. By the respective actuation of these keys the carriage return mechanism will be thrown into operation and the return movement of the carriage will be arrested with the carriage in any one of three different return positions, the stop position being selected by the actuation of the appropriate key.

Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, the keys controlling the return under power of the carriage from any advanced position to a selected precedent position are mounted on the travelling carriage I4 and arranged in a novel manner to enable the selection of any of several precedent positions to which the carriage may be returned. The machine is provided with a key lever I22, the actuation of which causes the engagement of the carriage return clutch and the closing of the motor switch to effect the return movement of the carriage. The key lever I22 which extends along the left side wall of the carriage is pivoted at I24 to the rear portion of the carriage frame, and is acted upon by a coiled spring I23 which normally maintains the same in elevated position. This key lever extends forwardly to a point adjacent the keyboard of the key carriage and terminates in an upwardly projecting stem extending through a slot in a guide plate I26 secured to the inclined keyboard frame, the stem. having a transverse stop pin I28 to limit the extent of depression of the key lever. A key I36 is fixed to the upper end of said stem and the depression of this key causes the return of the carriage to its limiting left hand position.

A bell crank lever I32 pivoted at I24 concentrically with the key lever I22, depends from this pivot pin, the depending arm constituting a support for an extension I34 adjustably secured, as by a bolt and slot connection I36 and a pivot I38 spaced therefrom, to the depending arm of the bell crank. The extension is slotted as at I46 to embrace a stud I42 on a radial arm I44 secured to a horizontal shaft I46 journaled in bearings on the key carriage frame. This shaft extends part way toward the right hand side of the key carriage and at its inner end carries an arm I48 depending through a slot in the apron 32 to a point in proximity to and behind the trip bail 64.

The remaining shorter arm of the bell crank I32 projects forwardly substantially parallel with and below the key lever I22 and the free end of said arm is provided with a lip I56 formed thereon to contact normally a rigid headed pin I52 projecting from the left side of the key carriage I4 which arrests the parts at one extreme of their movement.

A restoring spring I54 (Figure 2), encircling the shaft I46, yieldingly retains the arm I48 withdrawn from the trip bail 64, the headed pin I52 serving to limit the clockwise rotation of these parts under the influence of the spring I54 and to confine the parts against lateral displacement.

A by-pass pawl I56 pivoted at I58 between the ends of and depending from the key lever I22, is turned clockwise by a spring I60 until its free reduced end is arrested by contact with the fixed pin I52, in such position as to lie in line with the lip I on the short arm of the bell crank I32. The key lever I22, when depressed, forces the reduced end of the by-pass pawl I56 against the lip I50 of the short arm of the bell crank I32, and rocks the bell crank clockwise (Figures 3, 4 and 5). This movement of the bell crank, through arm I44 and shaft I46 rocks the arm I48 counter-clockwise against the trip bail 64 to actuate said bail to close the carriage return clutch 40, 42 and the motor circuit switch I06 so that the motor is energized and the carriage is returned toward the beginning of a line.

The depression of the key lever I22 to its fullest extent brings the sharply inclined edge I62 of the by-pass pawl into wiping contact with the limit pin I52 which operates to cam the bypass pawl off from the lip I50. When this occurs the spring I54 restores the arm I48, shaft I46, arm I44, and bell crank I32 to their normal positions irrespective of and uncontrolled by the key lever I22.

To enable the carriage to be arrested in different return positions, each short of a complete return to the left hand marginal position, the machine is provided with a second key lever I64 having a stem projecting upwardly through the guide plate I26 above the stem of the key lever I22 and having a key I66 fixed to the upper end of said stem and with a third key lever I66 having a stem projecting upwardly through said guide plate above and to the rear of the stem of the lever I64 and having a key I10 fixed to the upper end of said stem. The key lever I68 extends downwardly and rearwardly across the left hand end of the key carriage I4 and its lower end engages behind a guide plate I72 secured at its rear edge to the outer face of an abutment I14 depending a predetermined distance below the left hand lower corner of the key carriage I4.

The inner face of the guide plate I12 is vertically grooved, to accommodate slidingly a check stop I76 secured to the lower end of the key lever I68. The lever I68 is acted upon by a coiled return spring I78 which normally holds the lever yieldingly in its uppermost position.

The lever I64 is pivoted at I86 on the lever I68 and, upon being depressed, is arranged to actuate the lever I68 through an eccentric I32 fixed to, and rotatably adjustable on, the lever I64 and engaging in a slot I83 in the lever I68. This slot provides lost motion between the lever I64 and the lever 568, the amount of which may be regulated by adjusting the eccentric I82.

In order that the lever I22 may be depressed to throw the carriage return mechanism into operation by the depression of either the key lever I64 or the key lever I68, the lever I22 carries a pin I84 secured in an upwardly projecting portion of the lever and engaged by the lever I64 during the downward movement of the latter lever. This pin engages in a slot I96 in the lever I64 and forms a guide for said lever but permits the lever I 22 to be depressed freely independently of the lever I64.

The pin 28 constitutes a stop limiting the downward movement of the levers I64 and I68 as well as the lever 522. The upward movement of the lever I64 is limited by the engagement of a stop face 68 formed on said lever with the under side of the guide plate I26. This limits also the upward movements of the lever I22 and of the lever I66.

The mechanism cooperating with the check stop I26 to arrest the return movement of the carriage has the same construction, arrangement and mode of operation as the corresponding mechanism illustrated and described in applicants application Serial No. 149,571. Said mechanism comprises a draft rod I96 extending transversely of the line space frame. This rod is T- shaped in cross section and is arranged to slide in a channel formed by the rear rail line II of the line space frame, the web I92 projecting forwardly therefrom and the carriage escapement rack I62 which is secured to the forward edge of said web.

The left hand end portion of the draft rod I99 is toothed for a considerable distance and arresters I 94, E96 and I98 of different heights are adjustably arranged on the draft rod to be engaged respectively by the fixed abutment I74 and the check stop I16 to arrest the carriage during its return movement at any one of three precedent positions and also to effect a line spacing operation incident to its return to any such precedent position. The arrester I94 of least height is located farthest to the right and the arresters I99 and I98 of successively greater heights are mounted on the draft rod in corresponding order to the left of the arrester I94. These arresters preferably have substantially the same construction as illustrated and described in applicants application Serial No. 149,571, to enable them to be readily adjusted longitudinally on the draft rod.

The left hand end of the draft rod I99 passes through an aperture in a rearwardly turned slotted projection 269 on the left hand end of a slide 292 extending therefrom toward the right along the front face of the carriage escapement rack I92 to which the slide is connected by headed fastenings 264 engaging in slots 286 in the slide. The slide operates to guide the draft rod in its endwise travel and prevents it from canting in its channel.

The draft rod is provided at its right hand end with a threaded portion 288 passing through a block 2I8 secured to the forward face of an arresting plate M2, the draft rod being secured to said block by means of nuts 2I4 threaded on the rod and located upon opposite sides of the block. The arresting plate 2I2 is provided with parallel slots 2| 6 and 2 i8 through which pass respectively a headed fastening 226 and a stub shaft 222 to support and guide the plate.

The arresting plate 2I2 is formed with a beak 224 which projects toward the left from the upper left hand edge of the plate into position to col lide with a forwardly extending fixed stop 226 (Figure 1) rigidly secured to the right hand end of the rear rail II.

A coiled spring 228 secured at one end to the fixed stop and connected at its opposite end to.

the draft rod I99 yieldingly retains the arresting plate 2I2, the draft rod and the slide 202 at their right hand limits of travel as determined by contact of the left end wall of the slot 2I6 in the arresting plate with its guiding and supporting stud or headed fastening 220.

When the operator, at any point in the advance of the carriage, desires to return the carriage to its limiting left hand position or to give a full return movement to the carriage, he depresses the key I 30 and key lever I22 to their limiting positions determined by the engagement of the stop pin I28 with the guide plate I26. During the downward movement of the lever, the bell crank I32 is actuated to engage the carriage return clutch and to close the switch of the motor circuit after which the pawl I56 is cammed off the lip I59 of the bell crank lever so that the key lever exercises no further control of the bell crank and the parts operated thereby, After actuation by the key lever, the parts of the clutch engaging mechanism and the switch closing mechanism between the arm I48 and the clutch and switch are maintained in position until the carriage approaches the end of its return movement. The check stop I16 is not depressed by this operation but remains in its uppermost position.

During the return movement of the carriage, the fixed abutment I14 passes over the graduated arresters E94 and I96 and finally engages the highest arrester I 98, the location of which on the draft rod determines the beginning of a line of writing.

The abutment I'I4, upon contact with the abrupt right hand face of the arrester I 98, forces the arrester to the left and with it the draft rod I99 and arresting plate 2I2, tensioning the return spring 228, until the beak 254 impinges against the fixed stop 226 which positively arrests further travel of the draft rod and the arrester I98 leftwardly and hence arrests the carriage I4 in its predetermined extreme leftward position to define the left hand margin and the beginning of the writing line.

A slight play is arranged between the right hand end of the draft rod and the block 2H1 to enable the escapement to lock the carriage at a uniform point upon each return of the carriage.

As the draft rod is moved to the left by the final movement of the carriage, the carriage return clutch is disengaged and the switch of the motor circuit is opened by mechanism hereinafter described.

When the operator desires to arrest the return movement of the carriage in a position to the right of the full return position as determined by the arrester I96, he depresses the key I66. The depression of the key depresses the lever I22 through the engagement of the lever I 64 with the pin I84 to throw the carriage return mechanism into operation and to close the motor circuit, the movement of the lever I22 and the lever I64 being limited by the engagement of the pin I28 with the guide plate I26. During the downward movement of the lever I64, after a predetermined amount of movement of the lever I 64 independently of the lever I68, the eccentric I82 engages the lower side of the slot in the latter lever and said lever is then moved downwardly to project the stop I'I6 downwardly to a position such that it will clear the arrester I94 but will engage the arrester I96 during the return movement of the carriage. During the return movement of the carriage, the check stop I16 passes over the arrester I94 and engages the arrester I66 as the carriage approaches the end of its return movement and slides the draft rod to the left in the same manner as before until the movement of the carriage is finally stopped by the engagement of the beak 224 on the slide 2 I2 with the fixed stop 226.

When the operator desires to arrest the return movement of the carriage in a position to the right of the partial return position determined by the engagement of the check stop with the arrester I96, he depresses the key I10. The depression of this key depresses the lever I64 through the engagement of the eccentric I82 with the upper side of the slot I84 in the lever I68 and the depressionof the lever I64 depresses the lever I22 through the engagement of said lever I64 with pin I64, the movement of the levers being limited by the engagement of the pin I28 with the guide plate 526. The depression of the lever I22 throws into operation the carriage return mechanism and the motor switch closing mechanism as before. The downward movement of the lever I63 projects the stop I16 to a lower position than that into which it is projected by the depression of the lever I64 to cause the stop to engage the arrester I94 during the return movement of the carriage. As the carriage executes its return movement under the action of the power mechanism, the check stop I16 engages the arrester I94 thereby moving said arrester and the draft rod I60 to the left until the movement of the carriage is stopped by the engagement of the beak 224 with the stop 226.

It is highly desirable that the mechanism for stopping the return movement of the carriage in the two partial return positions should be maintained operative after a quick depression and release of either of the keys I66 and I10. Otherwise, it would be necessary for the operator to maintain each of these keys in depressed position during the return of the carriage in order to stop the carriage in the desired partial return position. In order to secure this result, mechanism is provided for holding the check stop I16 in either of the positions into which it is projected by these keys after the quick depression and release of the key.

The mechanism for holding the check stop in position comprises a latch bar 230 pivoted upon a stud 232 secured in a projection on the lever I68 and depending therefrom in the manner clearly shown in Figures 6 and 1. The latch bar is loosely pivoted on the stud 232 so that not only can the stud turn freely within the latch bar, but the latch bar can swing freely in a vertical plane containing the axis of the stud. The latch bar extends downwardly from the lever I68 through an opening 234 in a guide plate 236 formed on a bracket 268 secured to the side of the deck 34 of the key carriage. The latch bar is formed with notches 240 and 242 arranged to receive alternatively a catch 244 formed by the beveled edge of the guide plate 236 to hold the latch in either of two depressed positions. The latch bar is acted upon by a leaf spring 246 secured to the stud 232 and bearing against the outer face of the latch bar which normally maintains the latch bar in engagement with the edge of the catch 244.

When the key I66 is depressed to its limiting position, the latch bar is depressed to a point at which the catch 244 engages in the lower notch 240 to hold the lever I68 in position to locate the check stop I16 to engage the arrester I66 during the return movement of the carriage. When the key I10 is depressed to its limiting position, the latch bar is depressed into position to cause the catch 244 to engage in the upper notch 242 to hold the lever I68 in position to locate the check stop I16 to engage the arrester I94 during the return movement of the carriage.

The latch bar is arranged to hold the lever I66 in position until the carriage has completed its return movement. Thereafter the latch bar is automatically actuated to release the catch 244 from the notch in the latch bar in which it is engaged and the lever I68 is then moyed upwardly to its upper limiting position by the return spring I18.

The mechanism for releasing the latch from engagement with the catch 244 comprises a lever 248 provided at its upper end with trunnions 250 projecting from opposite sides thereof and engaging in bearings in the lateral wings 252 formed on the bracket 238, the lever being arranged to engage the lower end of the latch bar when swung to the left from the position shown in Figure 6. The lever is provided with a weight 254 attached to the lower end thereof to increase the force of inertia on the same at the end of the carriage movement. The lever 248 normally rests against a plate 266 secured by screws 258 to the lower deck or type ring 266 of the carriage, which plate determines the position of rest of the lever.

Figure 6 shows the position of the parts when the key I66 has been depressed to its limiting position thereby causingthe catch 244 to engage in the lower notch 240 in the latch lever to hold the lever I68 in depressed position. With the parts in the positions shown in this figure, when the carriage return mechanism is thrown into operation by the depression of the key, the parts retain their positions until the movement of the carriage is arrested in the manner above described. When the movement of the carriage is stopped, the lever 248 swings to the left under inertia thereby swinging the latch bar to the left to disengage the same from the catch 244. The release of the latch allows the lever I68 and check stop I16 to be restored to their normal upper positions.

When the key I10 is depressed to its limiting position, the catch 244 engages in the upper notch 242 in the latch bar to hold the lever I68 in depressed position during the return movement of the carriage. When the movement of the carriage is stopped, the lever 248 is swung under inertia as before to disengage the latch bar from the catch and release the lever I68 and the check stop, allowing these parts to be restored to their normal upper positions.

The latch bar 230 is adjustably suspended from the lever I68 in order to enable the position assumed by the check stop I16 upon the'release of the keys I66 and I10 to be accurately determined. In the construction shown, the latch bar is loosely pivoted on an eccentric bearing sleeve 26I adjustably mounted on the screw stud 232 and provided with a disk 263 at one end 7 thereof by which it may be rotatably adjusted.

I 94 and the latch has been released, the movement of the draft rod IE8 to the right has moved the arrester to the right beyond the check stop. Then, if it is desired to return the carriage to the next partial return position, the key [86 is depressed. This will project the check stop into position to engage the arrester I96, and the carriage will be moved farther to the left and stopped by the arrester 96. In a corresponding manner, when the return movement of the carriage has been stopped by the arrester I96 and it is desired to return the carriage to its fully returned position, the key lSll is depressed to cause the return of the carriage until its return movement is stopped by the engagement of the abutment 114 with the arrester I98.

The disconnection of the motor from the carriage and the opening of the motor switch is automatically effected regardless of the extent of return travel of the carriage by a mechanism adapted to function just prior to the arrest of the carriage at any of its completely or partially returned stations. The said mechanism comprises a floating thrust bar 262 slidably supported adjacent its left hand end in an eye 264 formed in a bracket secured to and projecting from the adjacent vertical bracket 3 on the line space frame. The thrust bar is slotted at its right hand end as at 265 to ride on the rear end of a stud 268 projecting rearwardly from and travelling with the arresting plate 2 E2. The left hand end of the thrust bar is arranged to engage an inclined cam face on a member 2110 secured to the right hand end of the trip bail 64 in the path of travel of the thrust bar.

The length of the slot 268 in the thrust bar is less than the distance normally between the beak 224 and the fixed stop 228. Therefore, as the arresting plate M2 is drawn to the left by contact of the abutment H4 with the arrester I98 or by contact of the check stop l'l-d with either of the arresters I94 or 496, the supporting stud 268 will travel idly along the slot 266 of the thrust bar until just prior to the arrest of the plate 2E2 by contact of the beak 224 with the stop 226, the supporting stud 268 reaches the left end wall of the slot 2%. Thereafter, the continued movement of the arresting plate 2E2 shifts the thrust rod to the left against the inclined face of the contact member Zill on the trip bail and rocks the trip bail back to its normal position, thereby disconnecting the shiftable driven clutch member .of the carriage return clutch from the driving clutch member and (if required) interrupting the motor circuit.

In order to operate the latch bar to release the lever I68 in the event that either of the keys I66 or H is held depressed during the carriage return and until after the movement of the carriage is arrested, a manually operable latch bar actuating lever 212 may be provided as shown in Fig. 3. This lever is pivoted at 274 on the side wall of the key carriage and is provided at its rear end with an extension 276 bent in a cam shape and arranged to engage the inner face of the latch bar. When it is desired to release the latch bar from the catch 244, the forward end of the lever 212 is depressed thereby swinging the inclined face of the,

extension 216 back against the inner face of the latch bar and forcing the latch bar outwardly to release the same from the catch 244 and thereby release the lever !68; The lever 212 is acted upon by a coiled spring 278 which restores said lever to its normal position. The movement of" the lever 2'12 in opposite direction is limited by stop pins 2% mounted in the side wall of the carriage.

The machine is preferably provided with a line spacing mechanism having the same construction as the line spacing mechanism of the machine illustrated and described in applicants pending application Ser. No, 149,571. This mechanism operates, when the return movement of the carriage is stopped with the carriage at any one of the predetermined marginal positions, to impart automatically a line spacing movement to the line space frame.

Having explained the nature and objects of the invention and having specifically described a construction embodying the invention in its preferred form, what is claimed is:

1. In a record making machine, a carriage movable in opposite directions across the machine, means for'moving the carriage in one direction to letter space, power mechanism for imparting return movements to the carriage, means for arresting the movement of the carriage in any one of two or more returned positions, means for throwing in said power mechanism and for positioning certain parts of said arresting means to stop the carriage selectively in the required position, mechanism for holding said parts of the arresting means in operative position during the return of the carriage until the movement of the carriage is completely arrested and machine controlled means for automatically releasing said holding mechanism after the movement of the carriage is arrested with the carriage in any one of said positions.

2. In a record making machine, a carriage movable across the machine in opposite directions, means for moving the carriage in letter spacing direction, power operated mechanism for imparting return movements to the carriage, mechanism for stopping the return movement of the carriage with the carriage in a predetermined partially returned position, comprising a movable stopping device, a manipulative device for throwing in said power operated mechanism and for positioning said stopping device to stop the carriage, means for holding said stopping device in stopping position during return movement of the carriage to stopping position and machine controlled mechanism for releasing said holding means immediately after the movement of thecarriage is stopped.

3. In a record making machine, a carriage movable in opposite directions across the machine, mechanism for moving the carriage in one direction during the record making operation, power mechanism for imparting return movements to the carriage, means for arresting the movement of the carriage with the carriage in a fully returned position, a device for arresting the movement of the carriage-with the carriage in a partially returned position, mechanism for simultaneously throwing in said power mechanism and for positioning said device to arrest the carriage, means. for holding said device in operative position during thepartial return movement of the carriage until the. movement of the carriage is completely arrested and machine operated mechanism rendered operative by the arrest of the carriage for automatically releasing said holding means after the movement of the carriage is arrested.

4. In a record making machine, a carriage movable in oppositedirections across the ma-.

'chine, means for moving the carriage in one carriage during its return movement in a predetermined partially returned position, a key and connections for throwing in said power mechanism and for positioning said device to stop return movement of the carriage means for holding said device in stopping position during the return movement of the carriage until said movement is completely stopped and mechanism under machine control, rendered operative by the stopping of the carriage and operating automatically after the movement of the carriage is stopped and prior to the next advance of the carriage, for releasing said holding means.

5. A record making machine having, in combination, a carriage, means for moving the carriage in one direction across the machine during the record making operation, power mechanism for imparting return movements to the carriage, stopping means for stopping the return movement of the carriage with the carriage in a partially returned position, comprising a movable stop, manipulative devices for simultaneously throwing the power means into operation and for moving the stop into operative position, a latch for holding the stop in stopping position during the entire return of the carriage to stopping position and mechanism controlled by the machine and operating automatically in response to the stopping of the carriage for releasing the latch after the stopping of the carriage.

6. A record making machine having, in combination, a carriage, means for moving the carriage in one direction across the machine during the record making operation, power means for imparting return movements to the carriage, stopping means for stopping the return movement of the carriage with the carriage in a partially returned position, comprising a movable stop, manipulative means for simultaneously throwing the power means into operation and for moving the stop into operative position, a latch for holding the stop in stopping position during the return of the carriage and devices moving with the carriage during its return and operated by inertia after the stopping of the carriage for releasing the latch.

7. In a record making machine a carriage movable in letter spacing direction and return, means for moving the carriage in letter spacing direction, power mechanism for imparting return movements to the carriage, devices for stopping the return movement of the carriage alternatively with the carriage in a fully returned or in a partiall returned position, means for throwing in said power mechanism for the return of the carriage to either of said positions, mechanism for positioning one of the stopping devices for the stopping of the carriage in a partially returned position, mechanism for holding the latter stopping device in operative position during the partial return movement of the carriage and means mounted on the carriage and operated by inertia after the movement of the carriage is stopped for releasing said holding mechanism.

8. In a record making machine, a carriage movable in opposite directions across the machine, means for moving the carriage in one direction to letter space, power mechanism for imparting return movements to the carriage, a device for stopping the carriage in a partially returned position, manually controlled means for simultaneously throwing in said power mechanism and for positioning said stopping device to stop the carriage in said position, mechanism for holding said stopping device in stopping position during the return of the carriage until after the stopping of the carriage and automatic mechanism for. releasing said holding mechanism in response to the stopping of the carriage.

9. A record making machine having, in combination, a carriage movable in opposite directions across the machine, means for advancing the carriage during the record making operation, power means for imparting return movements to the carriage, a settable device for causing the stoppage of the carriage in a predetermined return position, manually controlled means for setting said device, mechanism for retaining said device in operative position during return movement of the carriage to stopping position and machine controlled means operating automatically in response to the stopping of the carriage for actuating said retaining mechanism to release said device after the movement of the carriage is stopped with the carriage in said position.

10. In a record making machine, a carriage movable across the machine in advance and return directions, mechanism for advancing the carriage, power mechanism for imparting return movements to the carriage, a device arranged to be set by the operator to discontinue the return movement of the carriage with the carriage in a predetermined return position, means under control of the operator for setting said device, mechanism for retaining said device in operative position during return movement of the carriage and means moved with the carriage during its return and operated by inertia after the movement of the carriage is discontinued for causing the restoration of said device to normal position.

11. A record making machine having, in combination, a carriage movable across the machine in letter spacing direction and return,

means for moving the carriage in a letter spacing direction, power mechanism for imparting return movements to the carriage, a device for effecting the arrest of the return movement of the carriage with the carriage in a predetermined return position, mechanism for setting said device in operative condition, retaining means for holding said device in said condition during the return of the carriage, and means rendered operative by the stopping of the carriage for causing the restoration of said device after the return movement of the carriage has stopped.

12. A record making machine having, in combination, a carriage movable in opposite directions across the machine, means for advancing the carriage during a record making operation, power means for imparting return movements to the carriage, a manually settable device for discontinuing the return of the carriage with the carriage in a predetermined return position, means under control of the operator for throwing in said power means, mechanism for holding said device in set position during the return of the carriage and means comprising a weighted lever carried by the carriage and operated by inertia upon the discontinuing of the return movement of the carriage for causing the return of said device to its normal position.

13. In a record making machine a carriage movable across the machine in opposite directions, means for moving the carriage in letter spacing direction during a record making operation, power operated mechanism for returning the carriage in the opposite direction, a device for causing the stopping of the return movement of the carriage with the carriage in a predetermined position, means for positioning said device to cause the stopping of the carriage, mechanism for holding said device in stopping position during the return movement of the carriage until the movement of the carriage is completely stopped and machine operated mechanism for releasing automatically said holding mechanism immediately after the movement of the carriage is stopped.

14. In a record making machine, a carriage movable across the machine in advance and return directions, mechanism for advancing the carriage, power mechanism for imparting return movements to the carriage, shiftable means arranged to be set by the operator to cause the arrest of the return movement of the carriage with the carriage in either of two different return positions, mechanism under control of the operator for setting said shiftable means, mechanism for retaining said shiftable means in operative position during the return of the carriage to either of said positions and means operating with the carriage during its return and operated by inertia upon the arrest of the carriage for causing the restoration of said shiftable means to normal position.

15. A record making machine having, in combination, a carriage movable across the machine in opposite directions, means for advancing the carriage, power operated mechanism for returning the carriage, settable stopping means for the carriage, manipulative means to throw the power operated mechanism into operation and to project the stopping means selectively into positions to stop the return movement of the carriage with the carriage alternatively in either of two different positions, mechanism for holding the stopping means, during the return of the carriage, in condition to stop the carriage in the desired position and machine operated mechanism for releasing automatically said holding mechanism after the return movement of the carriage is stopped.

16. In a record making machine, a carriage movable across the machine in advance and return directions, mechanism for advancing the carriage, power mechanism for imparting return movements to the carriage, means arranged to be set by the operator to discontinue the return movement of the carriage with the carriage a1- ternatively in either of two difierent. positions, mechanism for retaining the movement discontinuing means in operative condition during return of the carriage and automatic means rendered operative by the discontinuing of the return movement of the carriage for actuating said retaining mechanism to release said settable means after the return movement of the carriage is discontinued.

OSCAR J. SUNDSTRAND. 

